Directly Bridging Indoles to 3,3′‐Bisindolylmethanes by Using Carboxylic Acids and Hydrosilanes under Mild Conditions

A straightforward Lewis acid‐promoted protocol for 3,3′‐bisindolylmethanes (BIMs) synthesis by reductive alkylation of indoles at the C3 position with carboxylic acids in the presence of hydrosilane was developed for the first time. Instead of aldehydes, more readily available, stable, and easy‐to‐handle carboxylic acids have been employed as alternative alkylating agents. As an efficient organocatalyst, B(C₆F₅)₃ enables the reductive alkylation of various substituted indole derivatives with carboxylic acids with up to 98 % yield at room temperature and under neat conditions. This metal‐free strategy offers an alternative approach for the direct functionalization of indoles to BIMs with carboxylic acids and such protocol allows selective reduction of carboxylic acid to aldehyde in combination with C−C bond formation.     

Adenylation Activity of Carboxylic Acid Reductases Enables the Synthesis of Amides

Carboxylic acid reductases (CARs) catalyze the reduction of a broad range of carboxylic acids to aldehydes using the cofactors adenosine triphosphate and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, and have become attractive biocatalysts for organic synthesis. Mechanistic understanding of CARs was used to expand reaction scope, generating biocatalysts for amide bond formation from carboxylic acid and amine. CARs demonstrated amidation activity for various acids and amines. Optimization of reaction conditions, with respect to pH and temperature, allowed for the synthesis of the anticonvulsant ilepcimide with up to 96 % conversion. Mechanistic studies using site‐directed mutagenesis suggest that, following initial enzymatic adenylation of substrates, amidation of the carboxylic acid proceeds by direct reaction of the acyl adenylate with amine nucleophiles.     

Analysis of the compounds in the synthesis mixtures of hydroxy acids by a gradient programmed RP-HPLC with UV/vis and RI detectors

Summary A gradient programmed reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method is described for the quantitative determination of some aldehydes, hydroxy aldehydes, unsaturated aldehydes, hydroxy carboxylic acids, carboxylic acids, alcohols and polyols using an ultraviolet and a refractive index detector in series. The sample matrices are synthesis mixtures of hydroxy carboxylic acids. The structures of the hydroxy aldehyde intermediates are determined by¹³C NMR and the influence of sample preparation on analysis results is discussed. The limits of detection and the precision of the method are evaluated.     

A novel reaction of β,β′-dihydroxy acids or esters with vanadium(V) trichloride oxide. New entry to the stereoselective synthesis of α-fluoro-α,β-unsaturated acids and esters

β,β′-Dihydroxy carboxylic acids and esters, readily prepared from dibromofluoroacetate and aldehydes, underwent deoxygenation, followed by elimination of aldehyde by the action of vanadium(V) trichloride oxide at the reflux temperature of chlorobenzene for 1 h to afford the Z isomers of α-fluoro-α,β-unsaturated acids and esters, respectively, in fair to good yields. This reaction provides a new alternative entry to the stereoselective synthesis of such fluoro compounds.     

One-pot two-step conversion of aromatic carboxylic acids and esters to aromatic aldehydes via indium-catalyzed reductive thioacetalization and desulfurization

Described herein is that a new approach to a one-pot two-step conversion of aromatic carboxylic acids/esters to aromatic aldehydes, in which indium(III) iodide effectively catalyzes both the first reductive thioacetalization of carboxylic acids and a subsequent desulfurization of the in-situ formed thioacetal intermediates leading to aldehydes.     

羧酸的还原方法

羧酸的还原是有机化学中的一类重要反应，有着广泛的用途。氯化铝锂是还原羧酸的常用试剂，但是，该试剂能还原多种官能团，因此选择性较差，近年来，化学工作者研究亲报道了许多新的还原方法，如用NaBH4/I2、NaBH4/H2SO4、NaBH4/BOP体系等还原羧酸成醇以及还原羧酸成醛的特殊方法。本文拟对这些新的研究进展作一介绍。     

纳米尺度氧化石墨烯层作为高效碳催化剂用于苄醇与芳香醛的绿色氧化

合成了纳米尺度氧化石墨烯(NGO)层,用作碳催化剂高效催化苄醇与芳香醛的氧化反应.对于醇氧化反应,当80℃时H2O2存在下,NGOs(20 wt％)可高效催化醇选择性生成醛,其反应速率和产率取决于醇上取代基的性质.对于4-硝基苄醇,反应24 h后,只有10％可转换为相应羧酸.相反,4-甲氧基苄醇和二苯基甲醇分别反应仅9和3h则可完全转化为对应的羧酸和酮.NGO碳催化剂上芳香醛氧化速率高于醇氧化速率.对于所有的醛,采用7 wt％ NGO作催化剂,在70℃反应2-3 h后,就可完全转化为相应羧酸.我们讨论了NGO催化剂结构对苄醇和芳香醛氧化反应影响的可能机理.     

Aerobic oxidation of aldehydes by visible light photocatalysis

An efficient and environmentally benign method for the oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids has been developed. Singlet oxygen, generated by visible light in the presence of a Ru or Ir photocatalyst, reacted with aldehydes to give the corresponding carboxylic acids in excellent yields. The reaction is highly chemo-selective, in which only an aldehyde moiety is reactive even in the presence of other photo-oxidation active sites. This method is an example of an ideal green chemical reaction in the sense that molecular oxygen and visible light are key sources for the transformation.     

Selective oxoammonium salt oxidations of alcohols to aldehydes and aldehydes to carboxylic acids

The oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes using stoichiometric 4-acetamido-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxoammonium tetrafluoroborate (1) in CH(2)Cl(2) at room temperature is a highly selective process favoring reaction at the carbinol center best able to accommodate a positive charge. The oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids by 1 in wet acetonitrile is also selective; the rate of the process correlates with the concentration of aldehyde hydrate. A convenient and high yield method for oxidation of alcohols directly to carboxylic acids has been developed.     

A new synthesis of aldehydes from acids via reduction of N-acyl saccharins using sodium dihydro bis-(2-methoxy-ethoxy) aluminate

Synthesis of certain aldehydes from the carboxylic acids has been carried by reduction of the corresponding N-acyl saccharins using SDA. The N-acyl saccharins are easily prepared by reaction of an acid with γ-saccharin chloride, which can be used for the next step of reduction without isolation and purification. This provides a convenient and one step synthesis of aldehydes by combining the two reactions, viz., preparation of the N-acyl compound and its reduction. The method has been successfully applied for the reduction of aliphatic, alicyclic, aromatic, and a α,β-unsaturated acids to the corresponding aldehydes and the yields obtained are quite satisfactory.     

Transition metal free one pot synthesis of aryl carboxylic acids via dehomologative oxidation of styrenes

Iodine/NaOH-catalyzed one-pot dehomologative oxidation of styrenes to aryl carboxylic acids has been reported. A wide range of carboxylic acids are obtained using iodine (I₂) as a catalyst, tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxidant and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as a base. This reliable conversion involves dehomologation of styrene to aromatic aldehyde which on subsequent oxidation affords aryl carboxylic acid. This protocol was used for gram-scale synthesis as it is free from chromatographic purification. This is the first report for the oxidative transformation of styrenes into aryl carboxylic acids under transition metal-free conditions.     

Stereoselective Lewis acid-catalyzed alpha-acylvinyl additions

Silyloxyallenes derived from alpha-hydroxypropargylsilanes undergo efficient addition to aldehydes with catalytic amounts of Lewis acids. The allenes are accessed from the corresponding propargylsilanes in a base-catalyzed 1,2-Brook rearrangement/SE2' process. Enantioenriched propargylsilanes are synthesized by a new zinc-promoted addition of alkynes to acylsilanes in up to 74% ee. This work demonstrates that conversion to the silyloxyallenes occurs with minimal erosion in optical activity. The use of a chiral chromium(III) Lewis acid effects the catalytic asymmetric addition of racemic silyloxyallenes to aromatic aldehydes in up to 92% ee. The overall reaction is broad in scope and accommodates a wide variety of aromatic and aliphatic substituents on both the propargylsilane and aldehyde.     

Chemoselective conversion of α-unbranched aldehydes to amides, esters, and carboxylic acids by NHC-catalysis

Depending on the N-heterocyclic carbene catalyst utilized, α-unbranched aldehydes selectively provided amides, esters, or carboxylic acids through oxidation by NCS. The α-unbranched aldehyde underwent these reactions chemoselectively in the presence of an aromatic or α-branched aldehyde.     

Acyl/aroyl Meldrum’s acid as an enol surrogate for the direct organocatalytic synthesis of α,β-unsaturated ketones

The operationally simple, robust and straightforward organocatalytic protocol is developed for the synthesis of E-selective α,β-unsaturated ketones. The method utilizes simple and easily accessible starting materials such as Meldrum’s acid, carboxylic acid, aldehyde and simple bifunctional amine catalyst. The tandem organocatalytic process utilizes acyl/aroyl Meldrum’s acid as an enol surrogate for the effective Doebner-Knoevenagel type condensation reactions. A wide variety of aldehydes, carboxylic acids and base sensitive functional groups are well tolerated under the mild reaction conditions.     

Synthesis of deoxy sugar esters: a chemoenzymatic stereoselective approach affording deoxy sugar derivatives also in the form of aldehyde

A chemoenzymatic synthesis of deoxy sugar esters is described. The synthesis is based on the O-alkylation of carboxylic acid with 2-bromo-5-acetoxypentanal. The method allows treatment of hydroxy carboxylic acids without protection of alcoholic hydroxyl groups. Several stereoisomeric deoxy sugar esters were resolved (up to ee or de > 98%) using a lipase-catalyzed acetylation of hemiacetals that in certain cases afforded deoxy sugar derivatives in the form of aldehydes. The stereochemistry of the reactions was determined by the NMR spectra of mandelic acid derivatives.     

The thermodynamics analysis and experimental validation for complicated systems in CO_2 hydrogenation process

Catalytic conversion of CO_2 into chemicals and fuels is an alternative to alleviate climate change and ocean acidification.The catalytic reduction of CO_2 by H_2 can lead to the formation of various products:carbon monoxide,carboxylic acids,aldehydes,alcohols and hydrocarbons.In this paper,a comprehensive thermodynamics analysis of CO_2 hydrogenation is conducted using the Gibbs free energy minimization method.The results show that CO_2 reduction to CO needs a high temperature and H_2/CO_2 ratio to achieve a high CO_2 conversion.However,synthesis of methanol from CO_2 needs a relatively high pressure and low temperature to minimize the reverse water-gas shift reaction.Direct CO_2 hydrogenation to formic acid or formaldehyde is thermodynamically limited.On the contrary,production of CH_4 from CO_2 hydrogenation is the thermodynamically easiest reaction with nearly 100%CH4 yield at moderate conditions.In addition,complex reactions with more than one product are also calculated in this work.Among the considered carboxylic acids(HCOOH,CH_3COOH and C_2H_5COOH),propionic acid dominates in the product stream(selectivity above 90%).The same trend can also be found in the hydrogenation of CO_2 to aldehydes and alcohols with the major product of propionaldehyde and butanol,respectively.In the process of CO_2 hydrogenation to alkenes,low temperature,high pressure,and high H_2 partial pressure favor the CO_2 conversion.C_4H_6 is the most thermodynamically favorable among all considered alkynes under different temperatures and pressures.The thermodynamic calculations are validated with experimental results,suggesting that the Gibbs free energy minimization method is effective for thermodynamically understanding the reaction network involved in the CO_2 hydrogenation process,which is helpful for the development of high-performance catalysts.     

Aerobic oxidation of N-alkylamides catalyzed by N-hydroxyphthalimide under mild conditions. Polar and enthalpic effects

The oxidation of N-alkylamides by O(2), catalyzed by N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) and Co(II) salt, leads under mild conditions to carbonyl derivatives (aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, imides) whose distribution depends on the nature of the alkyl group and on the reaction conditions. Primary N-benzylamides lead to imides and aromatic aldehydes at room temperature without any appreciable amount of carboxylic acids, while under the same conditions nonbenzylic derivatives give carboxylic acids and imides with no trace of aldehydes, even at very low conversion. These results are explained through hydrogen abstraction by the phthalimide-N-oxyl (PINO) radical, whose reactivity with benzyl derivatives is governed by polar effects, so that benzylamides are much more reactive than the corresponding aldehydes. The enthalpic effect is, however, dominant with nonbenzylic amides, making the corresponding aldehydes much more reactive than the starting amides. The importance of the bond dissociation energy (BDE) of the O-H bond in NHPI is emphasized.     

One-pot Vilsmeier reagent-mediated multicomponent reaction: A direct synthesis of oxazolones and Erlenmeyer azlactones from carboxylic acids

N-Acylation of glycine with carboxylic acids was carried out by using the Vilsmeier reagent. The resulting N-acyl-α-amino acids were subsequently cyclodehydrated into oxazol-5-ones via the Vilsmeier reagent. Finally, treatment of oxazol-5-ones with aldehydes in the presence of the Vilsmeier reagent delivered Erlenmeyer azlactones. By combining these steps, using the Vilsmeier reagent allowed direct one-pot conversion of carboxylic acids into oxazol-5-ones and direct one-pot conversion of carboxylic acids into Erlenmeyer azlactones in the presence of aldehydes. These Vilsmeier reagent-mediated multicomponent reactions proceeded smoothly in reasonable chemical yields at room temperature. The chemical structure of the title compounds was confirmed by spectral data.     

Selective homogeneous hydrogenation of biogenic carboxylic acids with [Ru(TriPhos)H]+: a mechanistic study

Selective hydrogenation of biogenic carboxylic acids is an important transformation for biorefinery concepts based on platform chemicals. We herein report a mechanistic study on the homogeneously ruthenium/phosphine catalyzed transformations of levulinic acid (LA) and itaconic acid (IA) to the corresponding lactones, diols, and cyclic ethers. A density functional theory (DFT) study was performed and corroborated with experimental data from catalytic processes and NMR investigations. For [Ru(TriPhos)H](+) as the catalytically active unit, a common mechanistic pathway for the reduction of the C═O functionality in aldehydes, ketones, lactones, and even free carboxylic acids could be identified. Hydride transfer from the Ru-H group to the carbonyl or carboxyl carbon is followed by protonation of the resulting Ru-O unit via σ-bond metathesis from a coordinated dihydrogen molecule. The energetic spans for the reduction of the different functional groups increase in the order aldehyde < ketone < lactone ≈ carboxylic acid. This reactivity pattern as well as the absolute values are in full agreement with experimentally observed activities and selectivities, forming a rational basis for further catalyst development.     

gem-Dibromomethylarenes: a convenient substitute for noncommercial aldehydes in the knoevenagel-doebner reaction for the synthesis of alpha,beta-unsaturated carboxylic acids

A facile synthesis of alpha,beta-unsaturated carboxylic acids from gem-dibromomethylarenes is described. gem-Dibromomethylarenes are employed for the first time in the Knoevenagel-Doebner reaction as aldehyde equivalents for the efficient synthesis of alpha,beta-unsaturated carboxylic acids.